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EFFECTS OF A 4-WEEK YOUTH BASEBALL

CONDITIONING PROGRAM ON THROWING VELOCITY


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RAFAEL F. ESCAMILLA,1 GLENN S. FLEISIG,2 KYLE YAMASHIRO,3 TONY MIKLA,3 RUSSELL DUNNING,3
LONNIE PAULOS,1 AND JAMES R. ANDREWS1,2
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1
Andrews-Paulos Research and Education Institute, Gulf Breeze, Florida; 2American Sports Medicine Institute, Birmingham,
Alabama; and 3Results Physical Therapy and Training Center, Sacramento, California

ABSTRACT professional levels (3). With approximately 99% of baseball


players participating in youth and high school leagues, it is
Escamilla, RF, Fleisig, GS, Yamashiro, K, Mikla, T, Dunning, R,
important for strength and conditioning specialists to be
Paulos, L, and Andrews, JR. Effects of a 4-week youth baseball
knowledgeable in performance enhancement and training in
conditioning program on throwing velocity. J Strength Cond
youth (under 18 years of age) baseball players.
Res 24(12): 3247–3254, 2010—Effects of a 4-week youth There are limited studies that have investigated the effects
baseball conditioning program on throwing velocity. This study of resistance training programs in youth baseball players on
examined the effects of a 4-week youth baseball conditioning baseball performance variables. Szymanski et al. (11,13)
program on maximum throwing velocity. Thirty-four youth investigated the effects of a 12-week periodized training
baseball players (11–15 years of age) were randomly and program, largely comprising wrist and forearm training, on
equally divided into control and training groups. The training bat velocity in high school baseball players. Szymanski et al.
group performed 3 sessions (each 75 minutes) weekly for 4 (10,12) investigated a 12-week medicine ball, torso rotation
weeks, which comprised a sport specific warm-up, resistance training, and a stepwise periodized resistance training
training with elastic tubing, a throwing program, and stretching. program with bat swings on bat velocity and torso rotational
and sequential hip–torso–arm rotational strength. Wooden
Throwing velocity was assessed initially and at the end of the 4-
et al. (15) investigated the effects of a 5-week resistance
week conditioning program for both control and training groups.
training program in teenage baseball players consisting of
The level of significance used was p , 0.05. After the 4-week
isolated shoulder internal and external rotation exercises on
conditioning program, throwing velocity increased significantly shoulder internal and external rotation shoulder torque and
(from 25.1 6 2.8 to 26.1 6 2.8 ms21) in the training group but throwing velocity. However, there are no known studies that
did not significantly increase in the control group (from 24.2 6 have investigated the effects of a baseball-specific condition-
3.6 to 24.0 6 3.9 ms21). These results demonstrate that the ing program on throwing velocity in youth baseball players.
short-term 4-week baseball conditioning program was effective One component of performance enhancement in baseball
in increasing throwing velocity in youth baseball players. is throwing velocity. For example, a pitcher with a good
Increased throwing velocity may be helpful for pitchers (less fastball sets up other pitches that help fool the hitter, such as
time for hitters to swing) and position players (decreased time the changeup and curveball. Throwing the fastball pitch with
for a runner to advance to the next base). greater throwing velocity allows less time for the batter to
identify the pitch and decide whether or not to swing.
KEY WORDS resistance training, little league, ball velocity Therefore, a fastball pitch thrown with greater velocity is
often more difficult to hit compared to a fastball pitch thrown
INTRODUCTION with less velocity, assuming similar ball movement and
location over the plate.

O
f the roughly 2.5 million baseball players in the
USA, approximately 80% participate in the 14 Throwing velocity is also important to position players. For
and under youth leagues, and another 15–20% example, a ground ball softly hit to the short stop or third
participate at the high school youth level (3). Less baseman requires a hard throw with high velocity and
than 1% of all baseball players are at the collegiate or accuracy to throw out the runner. Similarly, an outfielder
trying to throw out a base runner at home plate requires high
throwing velocity and accuracy. Throwing velocity may
Address correspondence to Rafael F. Escamilla, rescamil@csus.edu. increase by improving throwing mechanics or by employing
24(12)/3247–3254 an effective baseball conditioning program, which can
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research enhance muscular strength and power. Although several
Ó 2010 National Strength and Conditioning Association studies have analyzed the throwing mechanics in youth

VOLUME 24 | NUMBER 12 | DECEMBER 2010 | 3247

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Four-Week Baseball Conditioning Program

pitchers (5,7,8), it is unclear how improving throwing untrained individuals and did not have a regular resistance
mechanics affects throwing velocity. training routine), no participation in a formal resistance
Although other studies have examined the effects of training program during the 4-week period of the study, such
resistance training on bat velocity (10,11), to our knowledge, as a weight training class in school (not including push-ups,
this is the first study that has examined the effects of a baseball sit-ups, or related calesthenic exercises that may be a daily
conditioning program on throwing velocity in youth baseball part of physical education class), and no participation in
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players. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects a school or league baseball program during the 4-week
of a 4-week youth baseball conditioning program (comprising period of the study. All subjects and their parents provided
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throwing, stretching, and resistance tubing exercises) on written informed consent, and the protocol used for this
maximum throwing velocity. It was hypothesized that after study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at
a 4-week baseball conditioning program, the training group California State University, Sacramento.
would exhibit a significant increase in throwing velocity. It was
also hypothesized that there would not be a significant Procedures
difference between all pretest and posttest throwing velocity Description of Baseball Conditioning Program. The baseball
measurements in the control group. conditioning program for the training group was approxi-
mately 75 minutes in duration thrice a week for 4 weeks. Two
METHODS experienced trainers trained all 17 subjects in the training
Experimental Approach to the Problem group throughout the 4-week duration. The initial 10 minutes
Because throwing velocity is important for all positions in of the program comprised general warm-up and range of
baseball (as described above), this study examined whether motion exercises, including arm circles in multiple directions,
a short-term 4-week baseball conditioning program was side stretch to the right and left, forearm supination and
effective in increasing throwing velocity. Because youth pronation range of motion exercises, and wrist flexion and
athletes increase musculature strength through maturation, extension range of motion exercises, each performed for 2 sets
which can affect throwing velocity, we used an age-matched of 25 repetitions.
control group to compare to the experimental (training) The subsequent 30 minutes of the program consisted of
group. using elastic tubing (‘‘MVP Band,’’ A Change of Pace, Inc,
Davis, CA, USA) for 17 upper extremity resistance exercises
Subjects for muscular strength, power, and endurance. The MVP Band
Thirty-four youth baseball players between 11 and 15 years is different from most elastic tubing devices, because it was
of age volunteered as subjects and were randomly and attached around the wrist instead of a handle that was held in
equally divided into control and training groups. Both the hands. The 17 resistance exercises were performed for 1 set
control and training groups participated in their normal of 20–25 repetitions and included the following: (a) elbow
school activities (e.g., physical education class) and extra- extension (Figures 1A, B); (b) arm extension (Figures 2A, B);
curricular activities, such as running and playing school (c) chest fly (Figures 3A, B); (d) reverse chest fly (performed
sports other than baseball, because baseball was not in the opposite of chest fly); (e) rowing (Figures 4A, B); (f)
season at the time of this study. Both the control and training internal rotation with shoulder flexed 90° (Figures 5A, B);
groups were asked to list any activities or sports they (g) external rotation with shoulder flexed 90° (Figures 6A, B);
performed during the 4-week period of the study, and both (h) internal rotation with shoulder abducted 0° (Figures 7A,
groups listed similar activities and sports, such as running, B); (i) external rotation with shoulder abducted 0° (per-
playing basketball, soccer, or tennis, playing catch with formed the opposite of internal rotation with shoulder
a baseball, and performing push-ups and sit-ups in physical abducted 0°); (j) internal rotation with shoulder abducted 90°
education class. The primary difference between the control (Figures 8A, B); (k) external rotation with shoulder abducted
and training groups is that the training group participated in 90° (performed the opposite of internal rotation with
a 4-week baseball-specific conditioning program, whereas shoulder abducted 90°); (l) shoulder abduction to 90°
the control group did not. (Figures 9A, B); (m) shoulder abduction to 180° (Figures
The subjects mean (SD) age, mass, and height were 12.5 10A, B); (n) D2 diagonal pattern flexion (Figures 11A, B); (0)
(1.5) years, 52.4 (17.7) kg, and 159.7 (12.8) cm, respectively, in reverse throw (Figures 12A, B); (p) D2 diagonal pattern
the control group, and 12.9 (1.7) years, 53.9 (20.7) kg, and extension (reverse of D2 Diagonal pattern flexion, starting
163.8 (14.0) cm, respectively, in the training group. Inclusion with shoulder flexed and externally rotated and elbow bent
criteria for all subjects required each participant to be and ending with shoulder extended and internally rotated
a healthy baseball player, no history of upper extremity and elbow straight with hand at opposite hip); (q) standard
surgery, no shoulder pain for the past 12 months, no forward throw (Figures 13A, B).
rehabilitation for the past 12 months, no participation in Each resistance exercise was performed in a 3-second
a formal resistance training program the 4 weeks before the repetition (1 second for the concentric phase and 2 seconds
study (all subjects in both control and training groups were for the eccentric phase). Each subject was instructed on how
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Figure 1. A, B) Elbow extension. Figure 3. A, B) Chest fly (horizontal adduction).

Figure 2. A, B) Arm extension. Figure 4. A, B) Rowing.

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Four-Week Baseball Conditioning Program
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Figure 5. A, B) Internal rotation with shoulder flexed 90°. Figure 7. A, B) Internal rotation with shoulder abducted 0°.

Figure 6. A, B) External rotation with shoulder flexed 90°. Figure 8. A, B) Internal rotation with shoulder abducted 90°.

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Figure 9. A, B) Shoulder abduction to 90°. Figure 11. A, B) D2 diagonal pattern flexion.

Figure 10. A, B) Biceps curl. Figure 12. A, B) Reverse throw.

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Four-Week Baseball Conditioning Program

Throwing Velocity Assessment. Assessment of throwing velocity


was performed for all subjects at Results Physical Therapy and
Training Center (Sacramento, CA, USA) 2 days before the
start of the baseball conditioning program (pretest) and 2 days
after the completion of the baseball conditioning program
(posttest). All subjects were tested at approximately the same
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time in the afternoon or evening during both the pretest and


posttest. All subjects were instructed to be well rested and
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hydrated before testing, and not have eaten any food at least 2
hours before testing. After approximately 5 minutes of
a general warm-up consisting of walking, lunging, step-up
drills to a box, and stretching, and approximately 5 minutes of
light to moderate effort throwing, the throwing velocity of
each subject was then assessed. Each subject threw overhand
from flat ground at maximal effort to a target positioned at
approximately chest level and 13.7 m away. Subjects started
with both feet on a line and were then allowed to take one
stride toward the target as they threw the ball. Throwing
velocity was recorded from a calibrated Jugs Tribar Sport
radar gun (Jugs Pitching Machine Company, Tualatin, OR,
USA) as the ball left the pitcher’s hand and was accurate
within 0.22 ms21. Five maximum effort-throwing trials were
performed and recorded. Approximately 30 seconds of rest was
provided between all throwing trials to prevent muscular fatigue
from occurring.
Figure 13. A, B) Standard forward throw.
Questionnaire. During the posttest, subjects in the training
group completed a questionnaire asking their satisfaction with
the conditioning program, and their perception of how the
to perform each exercise with proper form and technique and conditioning program affected their throwing velocity. The
use enough resistance for each exercise that allowed them to questionnaire given to the training group asked them if they felt
perform 20–25 repetitions but no more. The subjects adjusted the conditioning program did not help, may have helped,
the tension in the MVP Band tubing to accommodate their probably helped, or definitely helped increase throwing
improvements in muscular strength throughout the 4-week velocity. Subjects in the control group and training group also
duration. completed a posttest questionnaire answering questions
The next 30 minutes consisted of a distance-based interval regarding what activities and sports they participated in during
throwing long toss program, which has been shown to be the 4-week period between the pretest and posttest.
effective in enhancing throwing performance in youth Statistical Analyses
baseball players (1). After a 5-minute warm-up throwing at Dependent t-tests were used assess significant differences in
a 50-ft distance, each subject performed pivot throws with an throwing velocity between pretest and posttest throwing
arc (no step allowed) for 15 minutes (60-ft throws for velocity measurements in the control group and in the
5 minutes, 75-ft throws for 5 minutes, and 100-ft throws for training group. Independent t-tests were also used to assess
5 minutes). Subsequently, each subject performed long toss significant differences in age, mass, and height between
throws with an arc (1 step allowed) for 10 minutes (100-ft control and training groups. The level of significance used
throws for 5 minutes and 125-ft throws and beyond for was p # 0.05.
5 minutes). Subjects 13–15 years of age ended their throwing
by performing 5 hard throws at 150 ft, 5 hard throws at 125 ft, RESULTS
and 5 hard throws at 100 ft. Subjects 11–12 years of age There were no significant differences in age, mass, and height
ended their throwing by performing 5 hard throws at 100 ft, comparisons between control and training groups. Mean
5 hard throws at 75 ft, and 5 hard throws at 50 ft. The final (6SD) throwing velocity comparisons between pretest and
5 minutes of the program consisted of shoulder external posttest measurements for the control and training groups are
rotation stretches, which consisted of 15 repetitions for each shown in Table 1. In the training group, throwing velocity was
arm for external rotation at 0° shoulder abduction, external significantly greater after the conditioning program (posttest
rotation at 90° shoulder abduction, and external rotation at measurements) compared to before the conditioning program
0° shoulder flexion. (pretest measurements), whereas in the control group, there
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TABLE 1. Mean 6 SD data are shown between pretest and posttest throwing velocity for the training (n = 17) and control
(n = 17) groups.

Group Pretest (ms21) Posttest (ms21) p-Value


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Throwing velocity Training* 25.1 6 2.8 26.1 6 2.8 0.004


Control 24.2 6 3.6 24.0 6 3.9 0.209
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*Significant difference (p , 0.05) between pretest and posttest.

were no significant differences between pre and posttest endurance improvement and to a lesser extent improving
throwing velocity measurements. muscular strength (4,9), both muscular strength and endurance
All subjects in the training group did not miss any training are important components to achieve for baseball players.
sessions, except 2 subjects, who missed 1 session, demon- Another reason high intensity was not employed in this study
strating excellent compliance with the training program. is that performing high-intensity resistance training with low
Moreover, all subjects in the training group were satisfied with repetitions in prepubescent youth is not recommended (4),
the conditioning program. Approximately 80% of the training because this type of training may increase injury risk in youth.
group subjects responded to the questionnaire by saying they Because throwing velocity improvement in youth may
felt the conditioning program definitely helped increase their simply occur from normal aging and maturation, it was
throwing velocity, whereas the remaining 20% of the subjects important to use a control group in the current. Certain
said the conditioning program may have helped or probably school activities, such as performing push-up and sit-ups in
helped increase their throwing velocity. physical education class, and extracurricular activities, such as
participating in overhead throwing type sports, may affect
DISCUSSION throwing velocity gains in youth, and these activities were not
As hypothesized, throwing velocity increased in the training controlled in either the control or training groups. Given the
group after the 4-week baseball conditioning program. These random assignment of the subjects within the 2 groups, and
results demonstrate that even a short-term conditioning given that the baseball conditioning program the only
program can result in increased throwing velocity in youth variable that differed between the groups, it can be concluded
baseball players. Because youth are often involved in multiple that the conditioning program was the primary reason for the
sports and activities, and often have a shorter attention span improvement in throwing velocity in the training group,
compared to older athletes, a short-term baseball conditioning especially given that the control group did not improve in
program may be an attractive alternative compared to a longer throwing velocity.
duration program (e.g., 10–12 weeks), especially because the Improvements in throwing velocity from resistance training
results of this study demonstrate that baseball performance programs have been previously reported. Carter et al. (2)
variables can be enhanced in a short-term program. investigated the effects of 8 weeks of upper extremity
The improvement in ball velocity may have been affected by plyometric training on isokinetic strength and throwing
both the training intensity and training volume, and more velocity in collegiate baseball players. Compared to a control
research is needed in this area. The resistance training program group that participated in off-season nonplyometric strength
in this study involved employing moderate intensity rather and conditioning activities, a plyometric training group
than high intensity, the latter being more conducive in exhibited significantly greater throwing velocity at the end
maximizing strength gain (9). However, it was important that of the 8-week plyometric program (83.2 mph in pretraining vs.
the young subjects in this study be able to perform each 85.2 mph in posttraining). These authors concluded that
resistance exercise with proper form and technique, and in although both resistance training and plyometric training
a controlled manner, and higher intensity training may resulted in strength gains, only the plyometric training group
compromise proper form and technique in youth (4). improved their throwing velocity. These results are supported
Moreover, it is common when using elastic tubing for by data from Grezios et al. (6), who reported that the stretch-
resistance training to use lower to moderate intensities with shortening cycle, which is the foundation of plyometric
higher number of repetitions, typically between 10 and 25 training, is the type of muscle contraction that primarily occurs
repetitions (14), and high resistance training with lower in overhead throwing, such as in throwing a baseball.
repetitions is typically reserved for free weight or machine Wooden et al. (15) reported that youth who performed
resistance training (9). Although the 1 set of 20–25 repetitions a 5-week resistance training program consisting of isolated
in this study was more conducive for maximizing muscular shoulder internal and external rotation exercises increased

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Four-Week Baseball Conditioning Program

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